Definitions
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Job-crafting
All definitions
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Changing the boundaries
"Job-crafting" is defined as "the physical and cognitive changes individuals make in the task or relational boundaries of their work" (Wrzesniewski & Dutton, 2001, p. 179). The concept of job-crafting is grounded in a social constructionist perspective, which focuses on how individuals psychologically construct (think about) the environments in which they experience the world (Gergen, 1994). Implications for the workplace Wrzesniewski & Dutton use the term "job-crafting" to "capture the actions employees take to shape, mold, and refine their jobs." They posit that employee motivation to job-craft arises from three individual needs: 1) Having some control over their jobs so that they do not feel alienated from them (Braverman, 1974), 2) Creating a positive self-image within the context of their work, 3) Connecting to others (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). Thus, at the individual level of analysis, employees who are dissatisfied with aspects of their jobs may assess the extent to which their work allows for job-crafting in order to address relevant issues. For organizations, a chief implication is that employees do have opportunities to mold their jobs – and may be quite likely to do so if their needs are unmet or perceived as thwarted. Thus, organizational change initiatives may be more appropriately informed by examination of relevant work-environment issues versus culture-excellence interventions. References Baumeister, RF, Leary, MR. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117: 497-529. Braverman, H. (1974). Labor and monopoly capital. The degradation of work in the twentieth century. New York: Monthly Review Press. Gergen, KJ, Gergen, MM. (1988). Realities and relationships: Soundlings in social constructionism. Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press. Wrzesniewski, A, Dutton, J. (2001). Crafting a job: Revisioning as active crafters of their work. Academy of Management Review, 26: 179-201. Read a practice exam essay in response to the question:
"Employees are not just passive recipients of organisational policy but have an active, if limited, role in shaping it: Discuss the processes through which individuals and groups might try to exert influence on change in organizations." Exam essay practice answer |
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